Guide Training

If you have interest in becoming a guide, we can help. We have offered guide training since the inception of the AMGA Top Rope Site Instructor in 1998 - now the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor - to over hundreds of guides across the US. And we’ve coached many guides who are out there every day making their living guiding on rock and ice.

American Mountain Guides Single Pitch Instructor Course and Assessment

We offer AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course and assessment throughout the season in the Gunks and Adirondacks.

From all the decades of running them, we’ve found the Gunks are one of the best places to host it. The variety of cliffs and anchor options allow us ample options to use different locations each day which allow the participants more practice working with comprehension than memorization.

The AMGA SPI Course is a 3-day program that covers all aspects of single pitch instruction - top management, bottom management, rescue, teaching, and more.

2025 Dates are as follows:

• - Gunks

•  - Adirondacks

The AMGA SPI Assessment is a 2-day program assessing both technical and soft skills in all aspects of single pitch instruction.

2025 Dates are as follows:

• TBD - Gunks

• - Adirondacks

Volunteer and Climb for Free!

During the Assessments, we look for volunteers to climb with the candidates. If we have an assessment, volunteers are a huge help on the second day of the exam. The day is typically about 6 hours long and will consist of beginner to low-intermediate climbing with a guide candidate on routes from 5.2 to 5.7 under the supervision of an AMGA Certified Rock Instructor and Rock Guide..

Day passes are not included. They are required and are the responsibility of each participant.

Please note that this program is subject to a minimum number of candidates enrolling to run the actual assessment. When that happens, this volunteer day will happen. There is no guarantee this free climbing day will happen until we confirm with you prior to the event.

https://go.theflybook.com/book/801/EntityConfig/16111

Guide Skills Training and Mentoring

We also offer skills review and guide mentoring. Whether you’re looking to hone some specific skills, prepping for a Rock Guide Course or exam, or looking to get in some supervision while mock-guiding, we can tailor a program to help.